Nipple shield for latch on problem

[winterbabe]

My health visitor advised me to get a nipple shield as it takes about 2 -3 hours to get her to latch on, though once shes on it only takes 30mins to feed and sleep (probably cos shes so exhausted!!). Ive started using them but just a few questions to those who have used them:

It feels completely different to when BF without them, is this normal?
Is it likely that in a few weeks i could take them off and she might be able to latch on, Im really worried she'l reject my breasts altogether!

all advise welcome, thanks

 

[marley2580]

Have you spoken to a breast feeding consultant? Nipple shields should only be used as a last resort as they can lead to you getting supply problems and make the baby less likely to be able to feed without them. What is actually happening when you try to get her latched on?

 

[winterbabe]

She tries very eagerly to latch on and opens her mouth wide and goes for it with my help trying to bring her in as quickly as I can when shes got her mouth really wide. but it never seems to be succesful until after the 2nd or 3rd hour of trying. then we get a perfect latch. its just that as it takes her so long to get on shes not getting fed as regularly as theyd like although shes put on and passed her birth weight. I went to a BF clinic and at the end of 3 hours she made me express and feed her with a bottle!! eek! not sure what to do now really!!

 

[hypnorm]

I used nipple shields against the MW advice and they really helped me, i can't see a problem using them i used them in the first few weeks as Ewan couldnt latch on without them because i was quite big. They also helped slow my flow down as i was literally choking him with the flow, as he managed to latch on better each time i would try starting off with them and then removing them and eventually he could latch on no problems with out them. i never suffered with milk production.

 

[Sweetie]

I used a nipple shield for a few days and was able to go to feeding without it shortly after successfully.

 

[marley2580]

But what is it that's not working? Are you getting pain? Is she not taking enough of the breast? What have you tried so far? Nipple shields do work for some, but they're not ideal as they can lead to problems.

 

[lady3]

I used it as I had the same exact problem in the beginning. I would use it to help her initially latch on and get the motion of the sucking that she needed, and then a couple of minutes later, take the nipple shield off and use it without. She was less hungry, so more patient maybe and was able to latch right on. I only had to use it for a week or so before she didn't need it anymore.

 

[sam#3]

I used them as a last resort when my nipples tore but only every other feed and only for a couple of days. I wouldnt use them for long if i were you in case it makes it worse. I didnt like the feel of feeding with them on either!
x

 

[kellyharrison]

Hey there - my LO is 17 days old and we have been using shields for over a week because my nipples were bleeding and cracked and are still healing. I have stopped using one on my left side because it has healed and she latches on no problem after a few tries! I dont think it will take her long to get back to back to normal. I was advised not to use them, but the alternative was expressing and using a bottle - i would recommend using the avent shields, they take a few sucks for the flow to start my LO is getting loads and they are shaped to allow the baby to continue to smell the milk and let their nose touch the boob as normal. I am hoping to come off them all together once everything has healed, and if I were you I would give them a try - they make them for a reason and f the alternative is putting her on a bottle - its worth it.